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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

David Roth

Ichiro Suzuki speaks during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown, New York.

Ichiro Saved One Last Surprise For Cooperstown

Kathryn Xu

Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros.

Emmanuel Clase Placed On Leave While MLB Conducts Gambling Investigation

Ray Ratto

Philadelphia first baseman Bryce Harper looking stern in the dugout during the MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on April 9th, 2025.

Bryce Harper Opens Negotiations On MLB’s Salary Cap Proposal By Telling Rob Manfred To “Get The Fuck Out”

Rich Hill #35 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the second inning against the Chicago Cubs.

Rich Hill Is BACK

Lauren Theisen

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out

The First-Place Dodgers Are In Relative Trouble

Richard Staff is a <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardStaff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weapons-grade Twitter goblin</a> and hostage of the Mets. That is his real name.

Richard Staff

Marcus Walden of the Boston Red Sox throws during a summer camp workout before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on July 15, 2020 at Boston College in Boston, Massachusetts. The season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Secret Brotherhood Of The Phantom Ballplayers

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Braves Coach In Hot Water Over Battle Of Gestures

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Bill Veeck holds up a sign to the crowd so they can manage the baseball game

Bills Week

Bill Veeck’s Goofy, Gag-Filled Baseball Book Was Ahead Of Its Time

of the Milwaukee Brewers slides into second base against the New York Mets on April 17, 2009.

Bill Hall Put It Together

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates jokes with Oneil Cruz #15 during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees in 2024.

Podcasts

The Hazards Of Bob Nutting Mindset, With Justin Halpern

of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting three home runs in three swings to win the Inaugural All-Star Game Swingoff. The Bills Week logo is at lower left.

The All-Star Game’s Confusing Ending Fit The Bill For A Confused League

Bill Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during the 2025 MLB All-Star player photo shoot

How Did Will “Bill” Smith Do At The MLB All-Star Game?

Kelsey McKinney

Willie Mays leaps against a green wall to grab a fly ball

All-Star Week Needs A Cool Catch Contest

Tom Ley

Defector Reads A Book: The Art of Fielding

Defector Reads A Book

Defector Reads A Baseball Book

Zach McKinstry #39 of the Detroit Tigers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run

30-Year-Old Man Hits Athletic Peak

Adrian Houser pitches against the Blue Jays.

Impressive Blue Jays Win Streak Thwarted By Noted Barf Man

jackson merril leaps up over the outfield fence to grab a ball

The Robbin’ Padres Are At It Again

Dave Martinez looks bummed shortly before being fired.

The Nationals Should Quit Pretending

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

A cat on a fake baseball card. He's grey and little and next to a keyboard. There is a wood border around the card, with the Toledo Mud Hens logo in the corner, and a Defector logo in the other corner, and WEBLEY: Toledo Mud Hens

Creaturefector

The Newest Toledo Mud Hen Is A Purrfect Midseason Addition

Luis L. Ortiz #45 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on from the dugout during the game against the Athletics.

The Suspect Pitches In MLB’s Gambling Investigation Of Luis Ortiz Look Not Great

Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox dives into home on an inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday, June 30, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Wilyer Abreu Hit It To The Most Fun Spot In Fenway

It Feels So Good To Be A Robber

Jacob Wilson #5 of the Athletics during the game against the Houston Astro.

I Am Sick And Tired Of These Normie Gamer Athletes

Jacob Misiorowski throws a pitch against the Pirates.

Mighty Brewers Lad Out-Duels Paul Skenes

Two new bombshells stand inside a heart that says "home run" underneath a sign that says 4th base.

baseball